Snapped sling swivel - FFS!!!

hammo

Well-Known Member
So, clambering gracefully over a gate late last night; and ping! rifle flops off my shoulder to the floor, fortunately I was hinge end of the gate - as always - so the brambles etc cushioned the fall somewhat.
Front sling swivel had snapped. After the angry cursing subsided, rifle, scope and nv seemed undamaged, must do a zero check though.
What a handful quadsticks, rifle and thermal are! Then a solution came to mind; I always have a paracord loop in my smock, its about four foot long, handy as a drag rope, emergency belt or whatever else you can dream up. I looped one end around the wrist of the stock, the other around the fore end up against the sling stud. Amazingly it was just the right length too.
Actually a very good replacement sling, did make me question all the money I have spent on fancy ass slings!
Paracord saves the day again!
 
Ditch all the paraphernalia and you will find much life becomes much easier. In most ground there are plenty of good natural rifle rests that are very steady and don’t have to be carried. Learn to look for them and stalk accordingly and use them.

And when you find a good spot, stay there and deer will soon come out into shootable positions. It is much easier to sit for an hour and wait, than blundering about the countryside carrying all the household furniture.
 
Yeah, I saw a youtube video of an ex military guy making a fixing for his sling with paracord rather than swivels. Simpler, cheaper, does not squeak. Why aren't we just doing that.
 
Yeah, I saw a youtube video of an ex military guy making a fixing for his sling with paracord rather than swivels. Simpler, cheaper, does not squeak. Why aren't we just doing that.
It’s the old method of attaching a sling. Indeed Rigby still suggest this method and make slings accordingly.

A Quick Detached sling swivel is a device that a gunsmith can make, or these days a chinese factory can stamp out. And then the retailer can charge £xx for them.

A prussick knot with a bit of paracord - little money to be made. Personally I would use a leather thong or a piece of kevlar or other high strength cordage, rather than cheap paracord.

 
have had sling swivels pull out before, a friends actually went and cost him the stocke! I usually fix them in permanantly now with a strong adhesive.
 
We used to use paracord on our bergen shoulder straps on the hills. Way back before these super gucci bergens were available the SAS/Para bergen was the daddy of all bergens and all used metal fittings but they would & could snap. So we always had a paracord 'safety' link so to speak so if it did go we could still tab using both shoulders not one.

Someone else's misery taught us that valuable trick! 😊
 
I have gone through my rifles and put a small cable tie around the opening part of each sling swivel.
I think the broken one had opened, leaving all the stress on the fixed side of the swivel, which then snapped.
 
I’ve had two cheap ones snap on me. Always the front one goes and comes down on Mod. I was 6 inch out of zero last time and I spooked the Doe I was stalking.
Since then I’ve replaced all my sling swivels with the Uncle Mike or Talon ones. Very strong and really pleased with them
 
Fitting the cable ties earlier, I have one set of uncle mikes already - very sturdy looking compared to the chinky others.
Ordered more uncle mikes now.
 
Finding stock in the UK of Grovtec,Talon,Uncle Mikes is really difficult. Even Brownells are showing out of stock
 
I have had 2x snap. Now only use steel ones. Even had a central pin come unriveted. Replaced with a SS cap screw and nylock nut.
D
 
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